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Sunday, June 30, 2013

The Peugeot 3008’s fuel-efficiency was put to the test by the media last Thursday, June 27 as EDI staged the Peugeot Eco Fun Run. EDI invited 20 media participants to drive the 1.6L e-HDi Peugeot 3008 variants 158 kilometers from Alabang to Batangas and back in normal driving conditions – meaning the vehicles’ airconditioners were turned on and the drivers maintained speeds well above the speed limit. Given Peugeot’s leadership in diesel technology, the media easily came up with significantly good fuel economy numbers.

The all-new 2014 Mazda3 compact five-door was revealed to the world during an event in Manhattan's Chelsea neighborhood. After weeks of media speculation and numerous "leaked" images of enthusiast renderings, Mazda pulled the sheet off the highly-anticipated redesign. The all-new Mazda3 is engineered with the full complement of SKYACTIV technologies – a proprietary suite of fuel-efficient, performance-driven components and manufacturing philosophies – as well as the handsome styling of the KODO design language.

Honda Cars Philippines, Inc. staged its fifth dealership groundbreaking at the future site of Honda Cars Marcos Highway last Sunday. Present at the ceremony were Mr. Tatsuya Natsume, President and General Manager of HCPI together with Ms. Helen Y. Dee, Chairman of the House of Investments and Mr. Medel Nera, President and CEO of the House of Investments. Honda Cars Marcos Highway is the seventh branch owned by the Yuchengco Group of Companies. Other dealerships are Honda Cars Quezon City, Marikina, Fairview, Manila, Kalookan and Greenhills that is anticipated to open at the end of the year.

Honda Cars Marcos Highway boasts of 2,500 sqm land area, located in the automotive hub of the vicinity. Customers coming from nearby cities will soon be able to check Honda’s latest vehicle line-up while being assisted by the friendly and well trained Sales Consultants. Customers will also have an easy access to the complete service facilities with preventive maintenance, general repair, and body and paint work. This dealership will truly be a one-stop-shop dealership for all Honda customers.

BMW once again proved its superiority in engine technology with the victory of its TwinPower Turbo Technology at the International Engine of the Year Awards 2013.

The 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with BMW TwinPower Turbo technology, fitted in the BMW 1 Series, BMW 3 Series and BMW 5 Series, finished at the top of its displacement category, a repeat of BMW’s victory last year. The Engine of the Year Awards was presented at the Engine Expo fair in Stuttgart earlier this month.

J.D. Power and Associates’ 2013 Initial Quality Study (IQS) has ranked the Kia Soul and Kia Sportage as leaders in the Compact Multi-Purpose Vehicle and Sub-Compact CUV segments, respectively, in the U.S. And, for the first time, Kia ranks among the automotive industry’s top 10 nameplates for initial quality. The 2013 Soul ranked first in the Compact MPV segment for the second consecutive year, and the Sportage tied for the highest ranking in the Sub-Compact CUV category.

Ford Motor Company has announced the appointment of Jesus Metelo ‘Met’ Arias as managing director, Ford Vietnam, effective July 1. He will continue to report directly to Matt Bradley, president, Ford ASEAN.

Arias, who is currently serving as director, Customer Service Division, Ford ASEAN, based in Bangkok, Thailand, will replace Laurent Charpentier, who has been appointed operations director, Ford of France.

Friday, June 28, 2013

After conquering the mountainous roads surrounding Sagada earlier this year with the all-new Forester, Subaru’s Philippine importer and distributor, Motor Image Pilipinas, decided to take on a very different challenge: the Subaru XV Suburban Drive. Ultimately, it has one goal: to prove that the XV is the perfect urban crossover. Cebu, the Philippines’s oldest city and a favorite vacation destination, played host to the first leg of the three-leg drive that saw a handful of Manila-based motoring journalists join several Cebu-based ones in driving the popular XV through the city’s various tourists spots.

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Now gassing up at a Petron service station is going to be even more rewarding for Petron-BPI Mastercard cardholders with the “Double the Rebate” promo, running from now until September 6, 2013.

Every minimum single receipt fuel purchase of P1,500 charged to your Petron-BPI Mastercard at any BPI-affiliated Petron station qualifies you for a 6% rebate, effectively double the regular 3% rebate. Transactions of less than P1,500 will only earn the regular 3% rebate.

Peter Schreyer, you are an absolute genius. Normally, it’s hard to fall in love with the design of a sub-million peso car, and a sub-compact car no less. But take a look at the Kia Rio. We happened to drive the budget-friendly 1.2 SLX and now we have the 1.4 hatchback. A single glance is enough to tell you that this is one special car. From tip to stern, the Rio’s an absolute beauty. It’s avant-garde, sporty, sophisticated—there’s absolutely no weak point in the Rio’s design.

The Peugeot 3008 is a compact, spacious and responsible crossover. It represents a new and innovative offer, not only in the Peugeot range but also in today’s car market as a whole. Manufactured in Eastern France at Peugeot’s Sochaux manufacturing plant, its concept and specification has draw on all of Peugeot’s expertise and values.

Monday, June 24, 2013

As expected, the twelfth triumph for the four rings at Le Mans was one of the most difficult and hardest-fought ones. Following a change in the regulations for refueling that was made at short notice, the three Audi R18 e-tron quattro cars on average needed to do faster laps on the track to compensate for the additional pit stops – and did so in weather conditions that at times were extremely difficult.

German auto giant Volkswagen formally signed the appointment of Automobile Central Enterprise, Inc. (ACEI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ayala Corporation, as its Philippine distributor.

In a simple ceremony held at Ritz Carlton Hotel, Hongkong on 27 May 2013, Weiming Soh, President for Commercial Operations in Greater China/ASEAN affixed his signature on the Importeur Agreement with Fernando Zobel de Ayala, President and Chief Operating Officer of Ayala Corporation, and John Philip S. Orbeta, Chairman and President of Ayala Automotive Holdings Corporation (Ayala Auto) and Managing Director of Ayala Corporation.

Isuzu Philippines Corporation (IPC) showcased their truck superiority by holding their annual Truck Fest at the Le Pavillion in Pasay City last June 20 to 22.

Cementing their reputation as the country’s best-selling truck brand, Isuzu showed off various body applications that can be used in numerous business and service applications. Displayed were an aluminum van, boom crane, cargo dropside, articulated crane with dropside, fuel tanker, mobile testing van, aerial platform, cargo crane, rivet-less aluminum van with power tail lift, and wing van. Also available for viewing were trucks in their cab-and-chassis form, as well as a bus chassis and a tractor head.

After showing good speed and finishing in 4th place in Friday's 2nd practice, Marlon Stockinger qualified in 6th place this morning for Saturday's sprint race in the World Series by Renault 3.5L category at the Moscow Raceway.

Stockinger finished the race in 8th place overall and 3rd in the rookie class, scoring 4 points for his team, with team mate Marco Sorensen finishing in 10th place.

Friday, June 21, 2013

Rolls-Royce is the ultimate statement that’s part car, part masterpiece. Known for its unparalleled attention to detail, each Rolls-Royce automobile is individualized to an owner’s discerning taste, taking at least 450 man-hours to handcraft at the company’s Goodwood manufacturing plant in the United Kingdom. It’s this quest for perfection that has prevented the British luxury carmaker to appoint an importer-dealer in the Philippines before. Now, all of that’s changed with the official appointment of British Bespoke Automobiles as the official importer-dealer of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars in the Philippines.

The normal or typical test drive for me involves getting a car from a manufacturer and putting it through its paces for a couple of days. Last week though, Petron Corporation offered a unique test drive—one that involved my own car, but with one slight change: a full tank of Petron Blaze 100 Euro 4.

Driven by the desire to strengthen customer satisfaction, Kia now offers the people of Molino and its neighboring areas superior facilities and topnotch service. CAC and Kia Molino, together with their loyal customers, can expect great things from this new dealership.

Visit Kia Molino, located at 6475 Daang Hari road Molino III, Bacoor Cavite and be pleasantly surprised by the only car brand with the Power to Surprise.

Photo above shows Suzuki Philippines, the only integrated motorcycle and automobile company in the country, treating its Makati customers to a free 23-point check up last June 14 and 15 to help them prepare their cars for the rainy season. Suzuki technicians check the engine condition, under the hood, under chassis, suspensions, and general condition of any Suzuki car brought in by owners during the free service camp.

Michelin Philippines Chief Representative Michael Nunag announced today that Michelin is the new FIA Formula E Championship’s official tire partner from 2013 to 2015.

Following the selection process by the FIA (Federation International de l’Automobile), the French brand’s bid was chosen by the motorsport’s governing body for its savoir-faire in three different areas: its technical expertise, marketing plan and involvement in mobility promotion programs.

Wednesday, June 19, 2013

BANGKOK, THAILAND—Today, every carmaker has weighed in on technology which aims to make their automobiles greener. Almost every aspect of a vehicle—from its aerodynamics to its engine, transmission, and even suspension have all been meticulously engineered to extract a couple more extra kilometers out of every drop of fuel. Now, one of the most important, yet neglected parts in a vehicle, the tires, is getting a “green” makeover courtesy of the new-generation Ecopia tires from Bridgestone.

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

It takes balls to launch an all-new car on the race track, much less drive it before it’s unveiled to the public. Why? Well, for one, it’s easier for enthusiasts to pass judgment on the car based solely on their experience flogging it on the track. And second, track driving typically magnifies a car’s weakness and can even reduce a perceived strength. In short, it’s a tight rope walk—toeing the fine line between expectation and reality. And where 99 percent of cars fail, the all-new Lexus IS 350 succeeds, managing to exceed expectations by a whole quarter mile.

Monday, June 17, 2013

It’s not everyday designers and engineers get the chance to start with a clean sheet of paper, but that’s exactly what happened with the all-new A-Class: a car that’s completely new, down to the last detail. Clearly, from the inside out, Mercedes-Benz has made the very most of that opportunity.

The 2013 Isuzu Truck Fest is set to provide the public unique transportation solutions during its staging from June 20 to 22 at Le Pavillon, Metrobank Avenue, Pasay City. To be featured in the show are Isuzu Philippines Corporation’s (IPC) lineup of trucks that have been fitted with various body configurations, highlighting their potential in numerous business and service applications.

Scheduled to take the spotlight at the show is the launch of the new Isuzu Forward FRR and FVM medium-duty trucks, which are expected to bolster IPC’s leadership in this segment.

The Hyundai Amazing Show throws the spotlight on all car-loving dads and dads-to-be this June.
From June 16-30, drive over to your nearest Hyundai dealership for exciting Father’s Day treats and surprise gifts.

Want more? Hyundai takes the Amazing Show promo to the major Metro Manila and provincial malls this June!

Sunday, June 16, 2013

Just a couple of weeks back, Asian Carmakers Corporation, the Philippines's exclusive distributor of BMW automobiles and motorcycles in the country took a select number of journalists on a high horsepower ride in the BMW Driving Experience at the Clark International Speedway. Though words and photos are okay, only a video will do the event justice.

So without further adieu, here's what happened during this exhilarating ride. Until next year!

Suzuki Philippines, Inc. (SPI), the only integrated automobile and motorcycle company in the country, expands its network in the Visayas region as it opens its first stand-alone dealership in Tacloban City. The newly-opened Tacloban dealership will offer sales services, spare parts, and service facilities to fully serve Suzuki’s customers in Eastern Visayas.

“The opening of our first stand-alone dealership here in Tacloban underscores Suzuki’s commitment to bringing great value cars closer to our key target markets across the country. Building on our long-established legacy in this industry, we are continuously innovating and expanding our network to deliver only the best driving experiences to our Filipino customers,” General Manager for Automobile Shuzo Hoshikura shares.

For more information about Suzuki Philippines and their automobiles, please visit www.suzuki.com.ph.

From appearances in James Bond’s “Goldfinger” to Steve McQueen’s “Bullitt” and now “Need for Speed,” the Ford Mustang has had one of the most prolific entertainment careers, with appearances in nearly 3,000 feature films and TV shows and a global fan following.

With a résumé like that, Mustang may someday get its own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Mustang has been so popular that one avid fan used crowd-sourcing to create a database on the Web dedicated to cataloging the pony car’s appearances.

Experience has taught us how rain can be life endangering, catastrophic and damaging to our properties. Since your car is one of the most valuable investments you own that is very vulnerable to the profound weather, protecting it is very essential. But never let these calamities threaten your hard earned investment and let BPI Family Auto Loan help in protecting your brand new car.

The rainy season is here and so are thunderstorms. Though motorists have little to fear from lighting strikes, Chevron Philippines Inc. (CPI), marketer of the Caltex brand of fuels and lubricants, reminds drivers that there is a different kind of electricity that all motorists should be aware of. Static electricity has been known to cause fires in in gasoline stations.

This rainy season, it’s high time to clear up some space in the house to welcome better things. De-clutter your closet by selling tight-fitting clothes, unused uniforms, formalwear and rarely used accessories online. You can also organize the kitchen, garage, attic and your cosy little siesta corner by letting go of items you don’t need, and posting them for sale on AyosDito.ph!

Wednesday, June 12, 2013

Ford Philippines today celebrated the continued expansion of its nationwide dealer network with the official opening of Ford Manila Bay in Parañaque City.

Ford Manila Bay is the ninth new full sales and service outlet the Company has opened over the last nine months, bringing the total number of Ford dealers to 32. Ford remains on track to expand its nationwide network to 35 by year-end.

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Land Rover Philippines (LRPhils) Motors Inc. recently launched the All-New Range Rover, considered the world’s most refined and capable sport utility vehicle (SUV). The fourth-generation model of the iconic Range Rover line was unveiled at the Land Rover Activity Center in Bonifacio Global City.

Lexus debuts the third-generation 2014 IS sport sedan, with a bold design highlighted by the new dynamic signature spindle grille and for the first time separated LED Daytime Running Lights. A combination of “aggressive elegance,” a more powerful road presence and a stronger brand identity help make the new IS models more alluring than ever.

They say it’s all about the journey rather than the destination; especially when you’re heading to a more familiar place like Baguio. A trip to the Philippines’s Summer Capital is dime-a-dozen these days and often times, it can be taken on a whim with family and friends. Thus, the only differentiating factor is the drive, and by golly, you need a damn good car to stand out. And on this occasion, prayers to the automotive gods were answered in the form of the new Mazda CX-5 AWD Sport and the Mazda6 sports sedan.

Monday, June 10, 2013

The Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA)-run Auto Mechanic Training Center in Tacloban, Leyte that is funded by Isuzu Motors Limited (IML) of Japan is continuing its mission to improve the lives of underprivileged but deserving out-of-school youths by providing them with education needed to gain employment.

Inaugurated in 2008, the training center is a project that forms part of IML’s “Heart and Smile” corporate social responsibility campaign. Apart from providing financial support, IML also supplies technical requirements essential to an automotive education course such as training materials, program modules, practical applications and other skills enhancement tools.

Summer, with its highly predictable weather, is always the best time for a road trip with friends. And all it takes for the perfect getaway is two key ingredients: a great destination and an equally great car to match. Once these ingredients blend together, you’ve got a recipe for fun, “Summer Fun” to be exact. Just a couple of days ago, Ford flew a bunch of summer-wary motoring journalists down to Bohol to get their final dose of the summer sun.

Sunday, June 9, 2013

With the launch of the all-new Toyota Corolla for the North American market, speculation is high on what will eventually reach ASEAN shores, particularly, the Philippines. Though the North American Corolla is the strongest indicator yet, I would like to personally throw my bet behind the European Corolla, the photos of which were released at almost the same time as the North American version.

When was the last time you got a jaw-dropping deal for that dream car?

Hyundai makes your dreams come true, more easily now with stunning offers: For the spectacular i10, an all-in low of P68,000 when you avail of any variant at only 20% down payment; for the brilliant Elantra, save as much as P99,000 when you get an Elantra 1.8 GLS A/T at just 20% down payment; for the phenomenal Tucson T2.0 Limited, a cash discount of P150,000; and for the incredible EON, an all-in low down payment of P48,000 when you get the EON 0.8 GL M/T at 20% down!

Leading oil company Petron Corporation marked another milestone in fuels technology with the recent launch of the first Euro 4 premium plus gasoline in the country that meets European fuel quality standards. Another first from Petron, the new Petron Blaze 100 Euro 4 is specially formulated to meet the more stringent and environment-friendly Euro 4 standard.

Saturday, June 8, 2013

“I am extremely thrilled to be the ambassadress for the Audi Q3. It is such an amazing car to drive! Fun, comfort & safety at its best!”

Anne Curtis’ eyes sparkled as she arrived at the Audi Global City showroom. She could not take her gaze of the Samoa Orange car displayed in the middle of the posh showroom. It was the new Q3 – and it was going to be hers to drive as the newest brand ambassador of Audi Philippines.

Ford Philippines today reported its best-ever performance for the month of May with overall retail sales jumping 82 percent year-over-year to 1,230 units. The exceptional month was driven by the best-ever performance of the all-new Ford Ranger and continued strength in demand across the entire Ford lineup.

Ford’s year-to-date retail sales through May have also risen 82 percent to 5,016 vehicles, making it the country’s fastest growing automotive brand this year.

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Eurobrands Distributor Inc. (EDI), official importer of Peugeot vehicles in the country, formally opened today the doors of Peugeot Cebu. Like all the previous dealerships before it, Peugeot Cebu aims to provide the full Peugeot ownership experience to its customers while ascribing fully to Peugeot international standards. No less than Peugeot’s Sales Director for Asian Operations, Jean Yves Dossal, was on hand to formally open the dealership. The EDI management team tasked to launch Peugeot Cebu, meanwhile, was headed by EDI President Felix J. Mabilog, Jr.

I miss Debbie. About six year ago, we started to spend day in, day out together—from going to the office, doing errands, to getting some weekend R&R. She was the unassuming, silent type: always dependable, never temperamental. For the most part, she was everything I needed; until three years on, I had to say goodbye. I had to move on and let go of my Toyota Yaris.

Monday, June 3, 2013

Nissan Motor Philippines, Inc. (NMPI) is giving everyone a reason to celebrate the start of the rainy season with the “End of Summer Sale,” exclusive to the all-new Nissan Almera.

To chase away the end-of-summer blues, NMPI is offering big cash discounts and freebies for the all-new Nissan Almera, available only from June 8 to 9 at all Nissan dealerships nationwide.

Currently, NMPI has an ongoing promo with the Nissan Almera until June 30 – an all-in downpayment of as low as P99,000 or cash discount of up to P30,000 or low monthly payment starting from only P7,000. In addition to this, NMPI is offering P5,000 worth of genuine Nissan Almera accessories for free plus additional P10,000 discount – but only for this coming weekend.

Ever dreamt of the day when driving would be a pleasure and not a chore? The day of driving a car that connects with you? Look no further, Honda, known for its high quality and high performance automobiles, delivers spirited driving pleasure to keep up with the dynamic needs of these modern times. Get ready, as the newest addition to the Honda Cars Philippines Inc.’s, Honda’s automobile business unit in the Philippines, line-up, the All-New CR-Z is bound to unleash your passion to drive.

Vision Petron, the award-winning national student art competition of industry leader Petron Corporation is now calling for entries for its 13th iteration, with the theme Lakbay Tagumpay—A Journey of Triumphs and Milestones.